UK government appeals tobacco ad ban reversal
11/15/99
LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The British government said on Monday it had begun a bid in the Appeal Court to overturn a High Court judgment in October which forced a delay in plans to ban tobacco advertising from December 10.
Four firms successfully argued Britain should not pre-empt the European Union's July 2001 deadline for the end of tobacco advertising particularly as the ban has yet to be fully tested in the European Court of Justice.
The High Court said if the ban was implemented early in Britain and the European challenge to it then succeeded damages would not provide adequate compensation for the companies -- British American Tobacco Plc, Gallaher Group Plc, Imperial Tobacco Group Plc, and Rothmans UK.
The hearing was expected to last two days with judgment reserved at the conclusion.